Candidacy

Maryland Republicans came together Thursday night to unite behind Larry Hogan's candidacy for governor as his defeated primary foes vowed at a unity rally to work for his election in November. Harford County Executive David R. Craig, Charles County business executive Charles Lollar and Del. Ron George -- the second through fourth-place finisher's in Tuesday's count -- shared a stage with a beaming Hogan at the Severna Park gathering of several hundred cheering Republicans. Hogan praised each of his defeated rivals and said each was on board with his general election campaign.

It might seem counterintuitive, but constantly speaking ill of your political opponent can work to his advantage. And that might be what's happened in the Maryland gubernatorial campaign between Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, the Democratic candidate, and real estate executive Larry Hogan, the Republican. Brown and the Democrats have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to portray Hogan as a corporate shill with extreme views on social issues and guns. If you've watched any television over the past few weeks, you've likely seen ads claiming that Hogan is "too dangerous" for Maryland.

Howard County Police Capt. John Newnan announced plans earlier this month to run for sheriff in the 2014 election. Newnan, who joined HCPD in 1986, has served in many capacities in the department, including chief of staff within the Office of the Chief of Police, and commander of the Automated Enforcement Division and the Support Services Division. "I've had an opportunity to work in almost every facet of the Police Department," Newnan, a resident of Lisbon, said Tuesday, June 11. "I think my experience makes me a great candidate to help move the Sheriff's Office forward.

A fast-rising Adam Jones was fifth in the outfield balloting for the American League when results were last released Monday, and MLB tweeted today that he's been gaining on Toronto's Melky Cabrera and Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, both of whom were ahead of him and one of whom will likely occupy a third starting spot with Angels' Mike Trout and Blue Jays' Jose Bautista. Whether the three-time All-Star will get his fourth nod in the Midsummer Classic - let alone start in it - has dominated the local discourse for days.

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown will formally announce his candidacy for governor Friday at a cookout in his home county of Prince George's. Brown, a Democrat who has been expected to seek the governorship in 2014 since he was elected along with Gov. Martin O'Malley in 2006, will make his run official at a 4:30 p.m. event at Prince George's Community College. A former delegate and a veteran of the war in Iraq, the 51-year-old Brown will follow up the Friday announcement with events Saturday in Silver Spring and in the Waverly neighborhood in Baltimore.

Reporter Julie Scharper 's article on this year's Baltimore City mayoral race was excellent ("A daunting lead for the incumbent," Aug. 28). The city is fortunate to have such a strong field of candidates. Joseph T. "Jody" Landers' background in the Northeast Baltimore community, on the City Council and in the real estate market, coupled with his enthusiasm, dedication and thoughtful approach to the city's problems, position him to become a great Baltimore mayor in the tradition of the late William Donald Schaefer.

Andrew Cassilly recently announced his candidacy for the Bel Air seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, District 35B. Cassilly is a lifelong resident of Harford County, graduating from Bel Air High School in 1984 and enlisting in the 29th light Infantry Division of the Army National Guard. He attended Millersville University in Pennsylvania with assistance from the GI bill. After college, Cassilly was hired as a certified manual arts therapist at the Perry Point VA Medical Center, working with retired veterans.

Annapolis elections officials are expected to decide Friday whether Alderman Kenneth Kirby meets requirements to run for re-election this fall. Kirby's residency has been questioned by some residents, and members of the Board of Supervisors of Elections are scheduled to meet Friday in a closed session with attorneys to discuss the matter. More than 20 Annapolis residents signed a letter to the board last week questioning whether Kirby lives at the address on his election forms.

Democrat Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, a professor and local activist, last week formally announced a bid to run for the Baltimore County Council seat now held by Republican County Councilman Todd Huff. In an statement, Taylor-Mitchell called the district, which covers the county's northern end, "a unique, special area. " She held her first fundraiser at a supporter's home in Towson last week, where she was joined by Del. Steve Lafferty, a Democrat who endorsed her. "We can do a better job of re-investing in our business districts and maintaining quality retail areas such as the York Road corridor, including Hunt Valley," she said.

Flanked by local Latino leaders and a large contingent of politicians from his home state, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson formally entered the 2008 presidential campaign yesterday, saying that his thick resume offered him an ability unmatched by others in the race to tackle the country's problems at home and abroad. The Democratic candidate, who has been running for months and has already aired campaign ads, made his announcement in downtown Los Angeles' Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The official entry of Richardson expands what is becoming the most diverse field of mainstream presidential candidates in U.S. history.

Maryland Republicans came together Thursday night to unite behind Larry Hogan's candidacy for governor as his defeated primary foes vowed at a unity rally to work for his election in November. Harford County Executive David R. Craig, Charles County business executive Charles Lollar and Del. Ron George -- the second through fourth-place finisher's in Tuesday's count -- shared a stage with a beaming Hogan at the Severna Park gathering of several hundred cheering Republicans. Hogan praised each of his defeated rivals and said each was on board with his general election campaign.

At Wednesday's media availability for UFC 172 in Baltimore, one fighter stood out among the others -- middleweight Luke Rockhold, a guy with a movie star name and looks to match. At times, Rockhold seems to be more of a politician than a fighter, often pointing into the video camera to give his answers, as if he was strumming up votes to run for office as he was discussing his Saturday bout with Tim Boetsch. (It's among the five pay-per-view fights headlined by the lightheavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira.)

Veteran political consultant Julius Henson pledged Wednesday to continue running for a Maryland Senate seat even though the state says that may violate the terms of his probation. “Whether I'm free or in prison, the contest will go on and I plan to win this race,” Henson, 64, said during an afternoon news conference in the living room of his East Baltimore home. He vowed to “retire” longtime Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, whom he plans to challenge in the June 24 Democratic primary.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig became the first top-tier Republican candidate for governor to make his candidacy official Tuesday as he filed papers with the State Board of Elections. Craig signed up to be on the June 24 primary ballot along with his running mate. Del. Jeannie Haddaway of the Middle Shore. Republican candidates who have announced but not filed are Del. Ron George of Anne Arundel County and Charles County business executive Charles Lollar, neither of whom has named a running mate.

Andrew Cassilly recently announced his candidacy for the Bel Air seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, District 35B. Cassilly is a lifelong resident of Harford County, graduating from Bel Air High School in 1984 and enlisting in the 29th light Infantry Division of the Army National Guard. He attended Millersville University in Pennsylvania with assistance from the GI bill. After college, Cassilly was hired as a certified manual arts therapist at the Perry Point VA Medical Center, working with retired veterans.

State Sen. Brian E. Frosh on Tuesday became the first candidate to officially file as a candidate for attorney general in next year's election. Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat, is expected to face a hotly contested primary contest in the race to succeed Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who is expected to soon declare his candidacy for governor. “I am running for Attorney General because I believe Marylanders want to know they've got an advocate who will fight for them. They want to know someone has got their backs,” said Frosh.

Robert Banks came clean the other day about who put him up to running for Congress. He did it at a news conference teased this way: "Banks To Reveal Source of Congressional Candidacy." "I will admit that there is some truth to the idea to run for Congress did not originate solely with me, and that there was in fact some outside influence," Banks said in the release. So, did he confirm the claims of Republican rival Andy Harris - that Rep. Wayne Gilchrest & Co. got Banks in the race to split the anti-incumbent vote?

The state's highest court will hear the legal challenge to the candidacy qualifications of Democrat Douglas F. Gansler for Maryland attorney general. On Friday, an Anne Arundel County judge rejected the arguments, made by lawyer Jason W. Shoemaker, that Gansler lacks the required 10 years of legal experience in Maryland. Shoemaker - representing Nikos S. Liddy of Bowie, who filed the lawsuit - is the campaign manager for Scott L. Rolle, the Republican nominee for attorney general in the Nov. 7 election.

Del. Wayne Norman and Teresa Reilly, vice chair of the Harford County Republican Central Committee, have jointly announced their campaign for the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, respectively. Norman and Reilly said they will run together in District 35, which encompasses parts of Cecil and Harford counties. The district has been redrawn since the last election to include western Cecil in addition to northern Harford. Some of the district's Cecil County areas were previously in District 34 and were represented by Sen. Nancy Jacobs, who is retiring.

Defense attorney Russell A. Neverdon Sr. announced his candidacy for Baltimore state's attorney Wednesday, promising as the city's top prosecutor to renew efforts to lock up violent criminals. Kicking off his challenge to incumbent Gregg L. Bernstein, Neverdon said he would balance his crime-fighting efforts by improving treatment options for drug addicts and the mentally ill. "We can no longer afford to have a revolving door," Neverdon said. "Most crime in Baltimore City is not violent crime.